Bac Ha Secondary and High School, located in Lung Phinh commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province – a particularly disadvantaged area in the country – has nearly 100% of its students from ethnic minority groups such as the Mong, Phu La, and Dao. Established in November 2022, the "Leaders of Change Club" model was created with the mission of building a safe and friendly school environment and promoting the role of students, especially ethnic minority students, in spreading the message of gender equality and preventing violence. With 30 members, including 17 female and 13 male students from grades 6 to 9, the model quickly became a shining example in the movement to educate life skills and raise community awareness.

Since its establishment, the "Leaders of Change Club" model at Bac Ha Secondary and High School has been actively operating in various forms, attracting enthusiastic participation and support from club members and students throughout the school. To date, the club has organized 27 activities for its members, including 4 special sessions with 60 participants; participated in 3 exchanges with other Leadership Clubs in Bac Ha district with 74 participants; and organized 6 school-wide awareness campaigns with approximately 2,500 students and parents attending, focusing on topics such as traffic safety, social media safety, school violence, child marriage, and reproductive health at the school and in the community. Notably, the club has organized 2 dialogue sessions between the school's Board of Directors, the commune government, parents, and students, with over 150 participants.

The "Leaders of Change" Club exchange program was organized by the Bac Ha District Women's Union in 2024.

In addition, the club utilizes creative activities such as establishing Zalo groups, creating promotional Facebook pages, dramatizing activities, and participating in events organized by the Women's Union at all levels. These activities have created a beneficial platform, helping students better understand social issues and their rights.

By joining the club, students gain access to and practice communication, presentation, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. They also learn how to organize activities, games, and other life skills – fundamental competencies that will help them grow and succeed in the future.

Many students have become more confident in participating in activities, reducing shyness and timidity, and becoming more self-assured in communicating and expressing their opinions to adults, actively engaging in group activities. Students' initiatives and suggestions on various issues concerning children have received positive support from teachers, parents, schools, and local authorities.

Through this, the model has contributed to changing mindsets and raising community awareness about the rights and roles of children. The percentage of students graduating from grade 9 and continuing their studies at general schools has increased compared to before (reaching over 85%); many students who participated in the club have passed entrance exams and are studying at ethnic boarding schools at the district and provincial levels.

Thanks to the awareness campaigns conducted by the club, the school, and the local government, parents' and students' perceptions of child marriage have changed significantly. Currently, there are almost no cases of child marriage or consanguineous marriage among students at the school.

The "Leaders of Change Club" model has proven effective in empowering and improving the capacity of children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. The model not only helps children develop holistically but also contributes to changing community perceptions and building a more positive and safer living environment for children.

VAN ANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-ton-giao/cac-van-de/giup-tre-em-dan-toc-thieu-so-duoc-phat-trien-toan-dien-832768